As a
fan of a club team, these International Breaks can be infuriating. Players
travel, sometimes halfway around the world, then they play in games that are
often considered “pointless,” increasing exhaustion and risking injury. And yet
players wait with great anticipation for the chance to represent their country
(or in some cases, their adopted country.) For fans, it’s often hard to see the
value, but for players, there is nothing greater than the chance to represent.
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| Balotelli, ironically injured this International Break, takes the most pride in playing for Italy |
There
is a long and heated battle between FIFA and club teams. This week, for
example, players played on Sunday, and will play again as early as Saturday for
their club teams, while playing a national team friendly on Wednesday. The
timing is poor, too, as this is the point in the season where fitness becomes
very important and injuries are piling up. And some players are still playing
midweek competitions, too, such as the Champions League. That’s a lot of games
and a lot of travel in such a short space of time. The calendar doesn’t make a
lot of sense, and it is the players’ well-being that is most risked here.
Every
four years, there is also the World Cup. So many players will be playing
through July, only to return to club duty 2-3 weeks later. For European
players, there is also the Euros every two years, and similarly, most
confederations also have a tournament every two years or even every year. So it
is hard to justify a random friendly at this point in the season, knowing what
is ahead for so many of these players.
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| Muntari and Essien have both represented the Black Stars |
But
for so many players, there is an immense amount of pride and satisfaction
playing for their national team. There are so few bandiere left, or players who only play for one club. So clubs will
come and go, and thus loyalties. But the loyalty to their national team stays
throughout their career. The opportunity to wear their countries’ colors, the
crest, and to hear their national anthem played ahead of a match conjures an
unsurpassed emotional response. Nothing is better than representing.
Maybe
someday FIFA will be more attentive to the needs of the players and the
calendar will reflect this. Hopefully it doesn’t take a tragedy to make this
happen. But until then, fans of club teams will sit on pins and needless just
hoping their favorite players don’t pick up any injuries while representing
their country. And many fans have similar passion and pride involved with their
own national team, or maybe an adopted one, so it becomes difficult not to
become emotionally involved with a friendly or other match while still being
concerned for your players.
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| Honda is a national hero in Japan |
This
week, Milan players called up for national team duty include:
Colombia: Zapata
Colombia
vs. Tunisia, played in Barcelona
Ghana: Essien, Muntari
Montenegro
vs. Ghana, played in Podgorica
Guinea: Constant
Iran
vs. Guinea, played in Tehran
Italy: Abate, De Sciglio, Montolivo
Spain
vs. Italy, played in Madrid
Japan: Honda
Japan
vs. New Zealand, played in Tokyo
Morocco: Taarabt
Morocco
vs. Gabon, played in Marrakech
Slovenia: Birsa
Algeria
vs. Slovenia, played in Blida
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| Birsa is Slovenia's number 10, so much passion for his country |
While
I am thrilled that 10 of our players will get to represent their colors and
their country, with a season like Milan has had, I am hoping that they all come
back in good shape, too. Honda has the furthest to travel, so I would expect
him not to make it for Saturday’s game. But hopefully, everyone will be fit in
time to go to Madrid next Tuesday. My head says that I should be worried, but
my heart is proud that they are representing.
This post inspired by the music of
Fratelli d’Italia
Our next match is
Udinese vs. Milan
Saturday, March 8 * 18:00 CET (12noon EST)